Suction retractor

Abstract

The subject invention provides a suction retractor comprising a flexible continuous dam which forms a closed loop of any shape and which defines one or more inlet opening into an interior of the closed loop, so that suction can be applied into an interior of the continuous dam. The suction retractor may further comprise a suction tube defining a suction channel, the suction tube attached to or attachable to the continuous dam and when attached the suction channel continuous with the one or more inlet. The one or more inlet may open to a continuous channel extending throughout an interior of the closed loop. Preferably, the continuous dam is planar or substantially planar and comprises a first compacted configuration for insertion and a second open configuration for retraction. The suction retractor of the invention finds application in single incision and convention laparoscopic surgery.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A suction retractor comprising:
 a flexible continuous dam which forms a closed loop of any shape and which defines one or more inlet, the one or more inlet communicating with a channel which extends about the closed loop, the channel configured to introduce suction into an interior area surrounded and defined by an inner perimeter of the closed loop, a guard disposed interiorly of the inner perimeter of the closed loop at least covering or partially covering the one or more inlet so that suction can be applied through the one or more inlet and into the interior area of the continuous dam, the closed loop defining opposing first and second faces extending about the interior area, the dam being sufficiently flexible so that the first and second faces may each bend while the first and second faces simultaneously conformationally engage in apposition adjacent body tissue in face-to-face sealing engagement, wherein, the one or more inlet being configured to introduce sufficient suction that, with the first and second faces being in face-to-face sealing engagement with adjacent body tissue, the adjacent body tissue is drawn towards the interior area with the guard preventing the adjacent body tissue from being drawn into the one or more inlet. 
 
     
     
       2. The suction retractor of  claim 1  further comprising a suction tube defining a suction channel, the suction tube attached to or attachable to the continuous dam and when attached the suction channel continuous with the one or more inlet and the suction tube disposed laterally on the continuous dam. 
     
     
       3. The suction retractor of  claim 2  wherein the continuous dam is planar or substantially planar and the continuous dam and the suction tube are in a planar or substantially planar arrangement. 
     
     
       4. The suction retractor of  claim 1  wherein the channel being continuous throughout an interior of the closed loop. 
     
     
       5. The suction retractor of  claim 1  wherein the channel comprises an open channel. 
     
     
       6. The suction retractor of  claim 1  wherein the channel comprises a plurality of fenestrations. 
     
     
       7. The suction retractor of  claim 1  wherein the flexible continuous dam comprises a first compacted configuration for insertion and a second open configuration for retraction wherein a shape memory allows the retractor to return to the second open configuration after being compacted. 
     
     
       8. A method of retracting one or more body part, tissue, organ or part thereof using the suction retractor of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       9. The suction retractor of  claim 1  wherein the suction retractor is a conventional or single incision laparoscopic suction retractor. 
     
     
       10. The suction retractor of  claim 1  wherein the closed loop having a cross-sectional profile comprising one or more lip. 
     
     
       11. A method of retracting a body part, tissue, organ or part thereof with suction including:
 applying suction through a retractor, the retractor comprising one or more inlet defined in a flexible continuous dam, the continuous dam forming a closed loop of any shape and the one or more inlet communicating with a channel which extends about the closed loop, the channel configured to introduce suction into an interior area surrounded and defined by an inner perimeter of the closed loop, a guard disposed interiorly of the inner perimeter of the closed loop at least covering or partially covering the one or more inlet so that suction can be applied through the one or more inlet and into the interior area of the continuous dam, the closed loop defining opposing first and second faces extending about the interior area, the dam being sufficiently flexible so that the first and second faces may each bend while the first and second faces simultaneously conformationally engage in apposition adjacent body tissue face-to-face sealing engagement, wherein, the one or more inlet being configured to introduce sufficient suction that, with the first and second faces being in face-to-face sealing engagement with adjacent body tissue, the adjacent body tissue is drawn towards the interior area with the guard preventing the adjacent body tissue from being drawn into the one or more inlet, to thereby form a seal to the one or more body part, tissue, organ or part thereof and retract the one or more body part, tissue, organ or part thereof. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11  further including the step of applying suction through a suction tube attached to the continuous dam wherein the suction tube defines a suction channel continuous with the one or more inlet. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  wherein when the suction tube is attached to the continuous dam, the suction tube is disposed laterally on the continuous dam. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12  wherein the continuous dam is planar or substantially planar and the continuous dam and the suction tube are in a planar or substantially planar arrangement. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11  wherein the channel being continuous throughout an interior of the closed loop. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15  wherein the channel comprises an open channel. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15  wherein the channel comprises a plurality of fenestrations. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 11  wherein the flexible continuous dam comprises a first compacted configuration for insertion and a second open configuration for retraction wherein a shape memory allows the retractor to return to the second open configuration after being compacted. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 11  wherein the suction retractor is a conventional or single incision laparoscopic suction retractor. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 11  wherein the closed loop having a cross-sectional profile comprising one or more lip. 
     
     
       21. A method of manufacturing a suction retractor including:
 forming a flexible continuous dam which forms a closed loop of any shape and which defines one or more inlet communicating with a channel which extends about the closed loop, the channel configured to introduce suction into an interior area surrounded and defined by an inner perimeter of the closed loop, a guard disposed interiorly of the inner perimeter of the closed loop at least covering or partially covering the one or more inlet so that suction can be applied through the one or more inlet and into the interior area of the continuous dam, the closed loop defining opposing first and second faces extending about the interior area, the dam being sufficiently flexible so that the first and second faces may each bend while the first and second faces simultaneously conformationally engage in apposition adjacent body tissue in face-to-face sealing engagement, wherein, the one or more inlet being configured to introduce sufficient suction that, with the first and second faces being in face-to-face sealing engagement with adjacent body tissue, the adjacent body tissue is drawn towards the interior area with the guard preventing the adjacent body tissue from being drawn into the one or more inlet. 
 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21  further including forming or attaching a suction tube defining a suction channel so that the suction channel and one or more inlet are continuous wherein the suction tube is disposed laterally on the continuous dam. 
     
     
       23. A system for retracting a body part, tissue, organ and/or part thereof comprising:
 a flexible continuous dam forming a closed loop of any shape and defining one or more inlet through which suction can be applied, the one or more inlet communicating with a channel which extends about the closed loop, the channel configured to introduce suction into an interior area surrounded and defined by an inner perimeter of the closed loop, a guard disposed interiorly of the inner perimeter of the closed loop at least covering or partially covering the one or more inlet so that suction can be applied through the one or more inlet and into the interior area of the continuous dam, the closed loop defining opposing first and second faces extending about the interior area, the dam being sufficiently flexible so that the first and second faces may each bend while the first and second faces simultaneously conformationally engage in apposition adjacent body tissue in face-to-face sealing engagement, wherein, the one or more inlet being configured to introduce sufficient suction that, with the first and second faces being in face-to-face sealing engagement with adjacent body tissue, the adjacent body tissue is drawn towards the interior area with the guard preventing the adjacent body tissue from being drawn into the one or more inlet; and 
 a suction tube disposed laterally on the continuous dam, the suction tube defining a suction channel, the suction tube attached to or attachable to the continuous dam wherein when attached the suction channel is continuous with the one or more inlet. 
 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 23  further comprising an apparatus for applying suction through the suction tube and the one or more inlet. 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 23  wherein the suction retractor is a conventional or single incision laparoscopic suction retractor. 
     
     
       26. The system of  claim 23  wherein the closed loop having a cross-sectional profile comprising one or more lip.